Virus sparks restricted wheat trials

Queensland wheat trials will be scaled down after the outbreak of the wheat streak mosaic virus in southern Queensland.

The move comes despite earlier assurances the trials would go ahead as planned.

Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk says this season's trials will now be restricted to Crown land in areas like Gatton, Roma and Kingsthorpe.

Mr Palaszczuk says the State Government is not prepared to risk the contaminated seed from the Leslie and Wellcamp research stations being used on commercial properties.

But he denies the Government is over-reacting.

"The last thing we want to see happen is seed at risk being spread to private properties," he said.

"I believe that's the best way to go. I know that there are some people within in the industry who wanted to see the trials continue as if nothing had happened, but we certainly aren't going to do that."